Aimee ...how are the Ace and moving-at-work situation?
I am now in my new office, though I still left a closet full of stuff in my old office. I did get my art hung, you know, the important stuff
Ace is Ace - sweet as pie, slightly naughty, but still homeless. Sure you don't want a companion when you move to NOLA?
It's hard to believe my boy is 19 today!!!!!! We'll be celebrating his bday on Saturday by taking them out to dinner and having the "Oreo Dirt Cake" that Charlene posted.
Happy birthday, Kyle!!
I wrote an article this week about Ace that I wanted to share with y'all. It's overly religious so feel free to skip it if it makes you feel uncomfortable. On Monday, I was beating my head up against a wall trying to figure out what to write about and came home to see Ace. I knew then that I needed to tell his story and what we can all learn from it.
"Part of my L.O.O.C. (life outside of church) is spent participating in online communities, including one devoted to pet owners. While our usual discussions are about medical and behavioral issues and funny stories, we’ve also joined forces to help with a pet rescue by fostering, transporting across state lines, or donating towards vet care. A few months ago, I decided to help with a rescue effort. The Carrollton Animal Shelter lists their “death row” animals on Craigslist in a last ditch attempt to find them a home. Someone on the community board posted the listing and begged if anyone in DFW could pull and foster or find them a home. The faces in the listing were all heartbreaking, but one stood out to me – a dog named Ace. Ace was a stray found running the streets of Carrollton. Ace was small, which is what our preference is, and was quite cute. I decided that I would adopt him if he was still there on his last day.
For the next two days, I called the shelter to check on his status. He was set to be put down at 6pm on Tuesday, so at 3pm on Tuesday afternoon I made the trek to Carrollton to adopt him. I returned again on Friday to pick him up after his neuter. The girls on the pet community board contributed funds to help me cover his adoption fee, neuter, shots, and heartworm test.
The first weekend with Ace was emotional for me. When I picked him up at the vet that Friday evening, I realized how underweight he was. He was terrified of me and of the car he was riding in. He moaned all the way home. I cried right along with him. My dogs were overly curious and he was recovering from surgery and not up for long introductions. He wouldn’t eat for two days and I found myself in the kitchen cooking anything yummy I thought he might eat. It became apparent to me that he had never been in a house before and his worldview had changed dramatically.
I was determined to find him a home quickly but also knew I needed to get him used to a house and put some weight on him. He has put on 4-5 pounds and is now at a healthy 24 pounds. He is fully potty trained, has grown to love naps in a dog bed, gnawing on Nylabones, looking forward to consistent meals, and having a safe place to retreat to when we leave for work. He enjoys play with my dogs, especially my Miniature Schnauzer Lucy, walks through the neighborhood, and ear rubs.
80% of the animals that enter our local shelters are put down; I know I can’t save them all but I could save Ace. He was unwanted, likely born to a stray on the streets and never knew the love of a person. When I met him at the shelter the afternoon he was to be put to sleep, he leaned on me and put his head in my lap. He yearned for the touch of someone who might offer him a second chance and grace to see the next day.
So many times I have found myself, in my deepest and darkest times, crying out to God.
Please give me a second chance…please offer me the cup of grace…please give me a home with you, where there is warmth, love and acceptance… I have nothing unless you give it to me.
God has given us these things so freely and yet we forget how worthless we are without his gifts. I get caught up in my own life and take for granted the fact that I am nothing more than a stray in need of a caregiver. My relationship with God takes on a whole new meaning when I change the way I think of myself in relation to the greatness of God.
Ace is still with us but I am confident that there is a home out there for him. In the meantime, when I come home to his happy face and wagging tail, I remind myself just how much Ace’s thankful spirit has taught me about my own relationship with my Savior."
Happy 19th Kyle !!!!!!
. Good luck to A tonight.
. We are pulling plants tonight so dinner needs to be ready and easy to reheat. 
but it was cute to see them "move forward"
He made me cry when he said that, I guess I'm very emotional today.
I don't even know what time our plane leaves on Saturday.
